Panorama archive · Media
My Journey
Originally published
Submitted By: Mendy Rood Chandeler Calixte
Location: Haiti
I am Mendy Calixte. I am from Haiti. Raised in a coastal village, I am trying to solve the problem that occurs in my community where people do not understand how valuable the ocean is. I started to show the community the value and the beauty of the it through media pieces that I created and streamed at the local theater.
Watch the original video on YouTube
My vision is to be able to get to the bottom of that issue and make my community aware of the opportunities that the ocean is giving them to be prosperous. As a young man, I also want to be an example for the youth that they can change their community. I lived by the ocean for nineteen years, all I saw were local fishermen throwing their nets over the coral reef along side of the coast harvesting the ecosystem. I remember through supporting our marine project in my village. I have learned more about the ocean life, and that empowers me to point out my thoughts toward my community. While in High School, I started having workshops at my house with students in my community. I taught them how to use media to reach others. I also have been sharing my approach with supporting details and examples of other villages around the world that are developed through marine activities. This proves to them that there is a good chance for their community to progress.
My biggest challenge was to find a way to reach the community by getting students to understand the issue and teach them how to use media tools. Our workshop was successful and productive. Their media pieces (photos,videos..) are very alarmist and creative pointing out the issues that ruin the ocean to the people. Since I have been supporting Haiti Ocean Project (www.haitioceanproject.net) in its activities, they have provided me with equipment to use with the students for their media productions. Adobe Youth Voices helped providing software and tools. If someone is bothered by a problem that occurs in his community and he or she does not spread their solving ideas to people, that one should consider themselves guilty to let it happen. Even though it is not an easy task to do, it is worthy to try.
I was amazed how my community nowadays consider taking care of the ocean through what they have learned from our media pieces. I personally feel that it is just the beginning of my journey, because media is so far the easiest and most efficient way for me to promote changes throughout communities. It is time to make the voices reach out to the world.
Mendy Calixte
Following is a video about excessive killing of octopus on the coral reefs.
Watch the original video on YouTube
Following is a video of deep sea fishing of sailfish.
Watch the original video on YouTube
The following video shows the story of our usual workshop in Haiti Ocean Project.